Timely award for fresh artists

IN CELEBRATION of Women’s Month, artist Lerato Nkosi has been announced as the winner of the first ANNA Award, an art award aimed at recognising a new generation of women artists.

The ANNA Award is an annual contemporary art prize for women artists in South Africa and the winner receives R100 000 cash, a one-month residency at PLAAS in Franschhoek, a profile on Latitudes Online and a year’s supply of ANNA products.

Nkosi, who grew up in the Mpumalanga village of Swalala and was raised by her mother and grandmother, examines the complexities of existing as a woman with the awareness that the teachings are impacting and affecting her existence. The artist’s work employs ink and stamps as a vital, organic, multifaceted material.

Nkosi’s entry for the ANNA Award featured words inspired by her reading of Bell Hooks’s All About Love.

“The book held special resonance for me because of its reference to the author’s upbringing and the values that developed out of her experiences,” Nkosi said.

According to Latitudes, the winner was chosen from among the 12 finalists by the ANNA selection committee which included Makgati Molebatsi, arts advisor, curator and senior art specialist at Aspire Art Auctions, 702 Weekend Breakfast host Refiloe Mpakanyane, menstruation activist, speaker and academic Candice Chirwa, fashion designer at Leopard Frock Marianne Fassler, South African model, public speaker and businesswoman Jo-Ann Strauss and the curator at Latitudes, Nina Carew.

“I feel like I manifested my ANNA Award win because I knew it would open so many doors,” the artist said.

While Nkosi is proud of her past, she’s even more excited about the future. She is currently preparing for a number of international art competitions and, in each case, her body of work carries the same message.

“I want to remind women of our strength. I want to tell whoever is looking at my work that we don’t have to be victims. We have the power to change our circumstances,” Nkosi said.

She added that the recentlylaunched ANNA Award was a crucial platform.

“It’s vital that we create these opportunities for women artists. Our voices need to be heard.”

Fellow finalist Sinalo Ngcaba was announced as the winner of the Audience Award, for which Latitudes received 2 767 votes from the public.